Records: Alabama inmate was healthy days before he was found bruised and unconscious

(Huntsville Times File Photo)Convicted murderer Farron Barksdale is shown in 2007 in Athens en route to the Limestone County Courthouse. A report released to The Associated Press states that Barksdale was healthy days before he died after being found bruised and unconscious.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Records released to The Associated
Press show an Alabama inmate was in good health just days before he
died after being found bruised and unconscious in a state prison.

The
Alabama Department of Corrections' report into the 2007 death of Farron
Barksdale was provided to the Southern Center for Human Rights after it
won an open records lawsuit. The center released parts of the document
to the AP today.

In it, corrections staff say they didn't see
bruises on Barksdale after he transferred to Kilby prison from the
Limestone County Jail on August 8, 2007. But he was found unconscious
and bruised in his cell three days later and subsequently died.

One inmate reported seeing three guards assaulting Barksdale, but his claims weren't credible.

The center is still seeking an explanation of how the bruising occurred.